Page 14 of The Words of Us
Sasha is still looking at me, her lips curved into that soft, teasing smile that I’ve grown so fond of in just a short amount of time. But there’s something else in her beautiful green eyes now—something deeper, more intense. It sends a little thrill throughme, and I feel my heart rate pick up and my breath catch in my throat.
“Well,” I start, my voice a little shaky despite my best effort to sound casual, “this was really nice. I had a great time.”
Sasha doesn’t say anything at first. She just watches me, her eyes flicking over my face, taking in every detail. Her smile fades slightly, replaced by a more serious expression that makes my stomach flip with anticipation.
“I did too,” she finally says, her voice low and soft. She steps a little closer, her presence warm in the cool air.
There’s a moment of silence, one of those charged pauses that makes the air between us feel thick with possibility. My mind is racing, trying to figure out what to do next. Should I just leave? Should I say something?
But then Sasha makes the decision for me.
Before I can overthink it any further, she closes the small distance between us. Her hand finds its way to the back of my neck, her fingers threading gently through my hair. There’s no hesitation in her movement, no awkward fumbling. Just a quiet confidence that makes my breath hitch.
And then, before I can even process what’s happening, her lips are on mine.
The kiss is soft at first—gentle, almost testing—but there’s an underlying intensity that makes my whole body tingle with warmth. My initial shock melts away almost instantly, and I find myself leaning into her, my hand instinctively reaching for her waist, pulling her closer.
Everything I had imagined alone could never have prepared me for the real thing.
Sasha’s lips are warm and soft against mine, and the world around us seems to disappear entirely. There’s nothing but the feel of her mouth moving against mine, the way her breath mingles with mine, the way her hand tightens ever so slightly inmy hair. It’s like the tension that’s been building between us has finally snapped, and all I can do is give in to the pull.
I lose myself in the kiss, letting it deepen as my hands slide up to her shoulders, my fingers pressing into the soft fabric of her jacket. She responds in kind, her other hand slipping around my waist, pulling me closer until there’s barely any space between us. The kiss grows more intense, more urgent, and I can feel the heat building between us, the electricity crackling in the air.
It’s everything I didn’t know I wanted.
When we finally pull away, breathless and a little dazed, we’re both smiling—soft, nervous smiles that betray the excitement still buzzing between us. My heart is racing, my cheeks flushed, and for a moment, all I can do is stare at her, my mind still trying to catch up to what just happened.
Sasha’s eyes are locked on mine, her hand still resting gently on the back of my neck, her thumb brushing the edge of my hairline. She looks just as breathless as I feel, her lips slightly swollen from the kiss, her gaze heavy with something that makes my heart skip.
“I’ve been wanting to do that all day,” she says softly, her voice a little husky, a playful smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.
I laugh softly, biting my lip as I look up at her. “I’m glad you did.”
8
SASHA
My lips are still tingling, and my mind is spinning from the kiss. It’s as if the rest of the world has melted away, leaving just Evie and me suspended in this perfect, breathless moment. I pull back slowly, feeling her warm breath against my skin, and I can’t help but smile at the way her dark eyes are still half-closed, dazed and a little shy, like she’s as surprised by this as I am.
We’re both quiet for a second, the sounds of the city faintly buzzing around us, but neither of us seems ready to step back into reality. I’m usually not the type to get swept up in things so quickly, but with Evie, it’s like all the rules I’ve made for myself don’t matter. All I want is more—more of her smile, her touch, this feeling that’s buzzing between us.
I clear my throat, trying to sound casual even though my heart is still racing. “So, this was not how I thought today was going to go,” I say with a half-laugh, my voice a little shaky with leftover adrenaline.
Evie laughs softly, biting her lip as she meets my gaze. “Me neither,” she admits, her cheeks flushed in a way that makes her look even more beautiful than she did a moment ago. There’ssomething so real and unguarded about her in this moment, and it makes my chest ache with a kind of sweet, unexpected longing.
I don’t want this to end. Not yet.
“Well, if you’re not ready to call it a night…” I choose my words carefully. I don’t want to come on too strong, but the thought of saying goodbye right now feels impossible. “I mean, no pressure or anything, but if you want to…we could go back to my place for a bit? Just hang out. No expectations.”
I catch the flicker of something in her eyes—surprise, excitement, maybe even a little hesitation. It’s clear she’s tempted, and that alone is enough to make my heart skip a beat.
She looks at me, her lips curling into a soft, thoughtful smile. “I’d like that,” she says, her voice gentle, almost tentative. “But”—she glances down at her watch, the briefest shadow of responsibility crossing her face—“I need to go back to the bookstore first. I kind of left things unfinished, and Kenneth’s probably waiting for me to close up.”
I nod, trying to hide my disappointment, but there’s no real sting to it. It’s just a delay, a small bump in the road. “Yeah, of course,” I say, keeping my tone light. “I get it. Responsible bookstore owner duties and all.”
“But you could come with me to lock up, and then we could go after?” she asks a little cautiously, and I nod, a smile spreading.
She smiles at that, relaxing a little, and we start walking back together, falling into an easy rhythm. The anticipation is still buzzing between us, every step feeling like it’s filled with possibility.